I was 15 years old. Now I'm 58 (2022). I got separated from my friend and was left behind. Had to call my mom to come pick me up in Binghamton at midnight. She wasn't happy, may she RIP. This was the beginning of a journey that still continues to this day. Dark Star Jubilee in a couple of weeks! Never forget Jerry, the wellspring from which EVERYTHING in the Grateful Dead universe flows.

The peak of the jam might be the highest, most energy-packed moment the band ever played, at least post-hiatus. Must be heard to be believed. And a very nice show with good aud sound.

...a bunch of freakazoids from the West Campus dorms descend upon Broome County, Al gets tossed in the slammer for selling bogus bootleg t-shirts, its every man for himself in the swelter of Bingoland...someone flew off the roof that night, others got squished up front, the place was electric, the band was clearly on fire. We drew straws to see who would be the spokesperson at the Police Station after-show to bail out Al..the rest of us stared at the contraband under a glass presentation case in the center of the station's main floor..." this is pcp...this is marijuana...this is LSD...this cocaine..." What a crazy trip. Got Al out of jail, and headed back 81North to 79 West...then stayed up til dawn creating our own mythology. Hey folks, this ain't no Furthur show in Port Chester we be talkin'about!

Between "He's Gone" and "Truckin'," at around the 11:00 minute mark, Garcia plays a theme for about a minute, then Weir throws a hint of "Masterpiece" into the Jam, which Garcia picks up and for the next 45 seconds or so, they both play lead on this wonderful (but way too short!) "Masterpiece Jam."

By far the cleanest and spot on Sugaree I've yet to find. Yes, there are some noteworthy versions, but this is the one Sugaree my ears crave.

I felt compelled to write this review after reading all the delightful comments about this wonderful show on its 30th anniversary. I do so only to make some historical corrections and comments about this night, with the spectacular aspects of the music well described by others such as rigor1 and lvrwm. I was a freshman at Cornell and made the short drive down to Binghamton, and everyone remembers how hot and humid it was. Like Michael the Dancin’ Fool said, it was so packed going up the entrance ramp that one could hardly breathe. I remember being very concerned for the girls in the crowd, and it unfortunately was a sign of things to come.
I ended up being dead center on the rail, directly under Jerry, and anyone who doubts that, I have seen a photograph. As crazed as the playing was that night, Jerry hardly moved, showed little expression (if any) while singing, and his head was down the whole night as he poured out the good stuff… I would know, I stared at him on 2 drops the whole night. The pressure got so great that front barrier collapsed during Me & My Uncle, even after the Step back routine after Sugaree, pinning a roadie down between the barrier and stage. Those of us on the rail had to push against the edge of the stage with all of our might, and the roadie popped out and ran off. As soon as Me & My Uncle ended, Jerry and Bob left the stage, leaving Phil to do the talking.
About my dear friend Barry Glassberg’s masterful recording, it is quite accurate as to the way it sounded that night. He was about 20 feet back, and had to deal with all the crush on the floor as well. That he could produce such a clean recording in all that mayhem is a herculean feat of the time. For those who have remarked that the recording is a little thin, that is due to the Sony 158, and you might try a parametric equalizer to really push up the bass and increase the ambience. I have a Beyer Soundlabs SPL Vitalizer that does the trick quite well.
My only other comment is, about the Around & Around/Sugar Magnolia bit at the end of the show, Jerry’s head was down deep, and he auto-piloted into A & A at the end of Wharf, as he was apt to do in those days. Not hearing or sensing Bob picking it up after 3 cues, he looked over to Bob, who had a wide open smile shaking his head, veto’ing the auto-scrooge and brought it into Sugar Mag, and the Jerr then cracked the slightest smile and went with it.

This is a great show in a core deadhead area. 79 was a really good year for the Band and this truly is a hot performance across the board. Sugaree, FOTD and the whole pre-drums portion of the 2nd set are particularly outstanding. Enjoy!

Great Jack Straw...a MANDATORY China-Rider. Just listen to the crowd at the beginning, listen to Brent (I'm pretty sure it's Brent at this point) fuckin' jam those keys...sick my good friend, sick. 20 minute Sugaree. Not the biggest fan of Truckin' but this one is beyond solid.

I can't add anything to what others have said about the playing. Due to a certain substance, my first clear memory of the show is from Drums. I'm from Binghamton, and saw all 3 shows at the Arena, and all the local Jerry shows (The Forum & at the university). I was a little young for the 1970 show at the university. It was unusually hot for May. One of the 4 AC units was down, and it was steaming in the Arena. The jumper apparently thought that the fountain was a pool, and took a header from the ramp about 1 story up. The Arena actually told the Dead not to come back, but they had a contract and played once more, in 1983. To the person who ran down my home town with a bogus comparison to Eastern Europe, I pose a question. What part of that urban toilet known as the NYC Metropolitan Area do you come from?

This has got to be one of the most amazing versions of Friend of The Devil i've heard yet. Totally relaxed and the crowd is all about it.

I'm just getting into the Dead (better late than never) and finding various shows from years past on this archive is an amazing experience. All of thew history and energy, not to mention fan dedication, it's all really quite a humbling thing to be a part of.

My first show!...got tix from sibling for my 14th birthday the week prior; owned steal your face at the time....got 18 minute sugaree opener to start....old time china/rider...killer he's gone/truckin/jam....great loser, too....it was ridiculously hot in the arena that night, too...don't forget the jumper....Binghamton truly had a special gd connection, as a lot of real freaks lived there and all the shows here were truly sick! saw muddy waters and clapton here 3 weeks later!

I was still back in school out at Stony Brook, L.I. when a couple of friends brought me with them to see the Dead at this hockey arena in Binghamton. It was a general admission show and we were packed so tight getting into the arena that you couldn't move your arms. It was so hot in the place that the band had to change their t-shirts between sets and wipe down their guitars, but the music was hot too. Those years went up in smoke for the most part, but listening to this brought some synapses back to life, and I'm delighted to have found some really good memories in this cookin' set.

Just to let people know about some history to this show. I was a student at good ol' SUNY B, and it was an abnormally hot day...temp in the low 90's. The people who operated the venue turned the "heat" on mid-way thru the 1st set, apparently as a mistake while trying to turn the A/C or vent system on. Many of us at the show felt they had to "cool" down the crowd intensity with He's Gone after the Chinacat/Rider. The whole 2nd set was a roller-coaster ride, which was teriffic. An amazing Truckin'Jam between Bobby and Jerry...a special show, that I've had on tape for years, and played to death. Many deadheads who followed the Dead but were not at this show seemed to agree it was special. 4 stars because I'm a tough grader...and I'm baised as I was at this show.

This is an excellent recording. I'd give it a high 4.5 for an aud--very nice, but perhaps a tad below the gold standards for auds(e.g., Rob Bertrando's 8/6/71 or the Oades' 11/1/85). Instruments are very clear and the vocals are audible, if just a touch muffled at times.

As the other reviewers point out, the He's Gone > Truckin' > Other One (tease) > Drums segment is very energetic and well played. It's worth a lossless download for the second set alone, but definitely go ahead and get the whole thing!

Happy New Year 2006!

Gave this show a spin, and Truckin' does mutate nicely into TOO and rhythm devil noodling that sounds just right for this year and this month. The great shows would come in the fall, this one is just a lot of fun.

You could fantasize about the 60s if that's what works for you, but if you want to hear a late spring 79 AUD with lots of range, an enthusiastic audience, and FOB punch, this one might work for you.

My friends, there are Truckin's and there are Truckin's.

This Truckin' -- or at least the epilogue before it devolves into a mediocre Other One is perhaps the height of cheesey self-indulgence.

I'm sure it was crazy and silly and fun to be there while it was happening. But if I'm going to fantasize about having a good time at a venue, I'm in the front row at the Carousel or lying on my back on stage at Silver Dollar Faire in Chico. You know, back when that guy Pigpen was in the band and they didn't buy their distortion pedals at Guitar Center.

I have to agree, the Truckin is the best Ive ever heard and Ive listened to hundreds of these shows. This is the first review Ive written. Download this now and turn it up!!!!!!!

THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST TRUCKINS IVE EVER HEARD!!! IF YOU HAVE DEAD BASE YOU WILL KNOW THAT THIS IS LISTED at # 11, BUT I THINK IF YOU LISTEN TO THE OTHERS YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS should be alot higher on that list!!! THE WHOLE SHOW IS AMAZING THROUGHOUT, FULL OF ENERGY AND SOUL WITH JERRY LEADING THE WAY AS ANY CAPTION SHOULD, ONE MESS UP IS AT THE END OF WHARF RAT WHEN THEY GET COFUSEED AND TRY TO PLAY TWO DIFFERENT SONGS AND END UP PLAYING SUGAR MAGNOLIA, BUT OTHER THAN THIS LITTLE ISSSUE, THIS SHOW IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE!!! GREAT SOUND (AUD. IS AMAZING) AND GREAT SHOW COMBINE FOR A 20 STAR SHOW!!!!!!!!!!
PEACE!!! ALSO THE SUGAREE IS ALSO AMAZING, JUST A GREAT ALL AROUND SHOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a nice little gem and reinforces to me they never played a bad show in Binghampton - A place that makes Eastern Europe look like the Riviera. The first set is really rockin and the sound quality is fine, clapping is not annoying at all. Opening the second set with china>rider was inspired and got this crowd (already stoked) into orbit it floats along until the last 1/3 of IKYR and Jer wrenches control of that and drives it into the crowd's breadbasket over and over through the rest of the he's gone (an odd choice on the back of the sizzling china>rider and left more than one person shaking their head why he would take this down a notch) INTO A POSITIVELY SICK TRUCKIN....

I got an audience copy of the second set of this show about three months after it happened, and I still have that old Maxell. The quality of this download is much improved, but clearly from the same master. This is one of my all-time favorite shows, even to the point where I badgered David Gans into checking the vault to see if a soundboard existed. No luck ... but I have heard and chased elusive rumors of a boad on and off for years, even to the point of finding one guy who swore he had it on 8-track, of all things. To me, as a musician, there are a few highlights ... the jam between He's Gone and Truckin' is the most amazing I've heard ... check out Bobby and Jerry playing twin lead guitar just before the transition, as Phil adds a fifth turnaround to the typical E7 jam. The jam after Truckin' moves into an incredible frenzy of tension, a huge peak and climax just before the drums, with Phil just bombing the sound system with low notes. And that resurfaces toward the end of Wharf Rat, where the Round and Round tease becomes a rockin' Sugar Mag. This show is a MUST for any musicians interested in the Dead!

While most of the time it would be a distraction, I think the clapping adds to this show. Very noticable in China>Rider. That and Sugar Mag. The China>Rider was really fun. And that was the deal, above all. Remember?
Check out the crowd noise after. They are STOKED!

This is a good one. It's fun. Worth the space.

better sounding than 5-5-79 that I downloaded...

it's sad that there's no SBD recording of this show, it's a great one. But although there's a lot of crowd noise in this source it is a very good aud.

Looks like rain and Jack Straw are very very nice.